Our View - Sunday
EXPLORING LIMITS OF GOVERNMENT
Forum examines current state of affairs
One of the key principles that guide this editorial page is limited government. That is, government at all levels should perform only those functions individuals or the market cannot reasonably do, i.e., providing a justice system, common defense and a few other well-defined functions. The United States was founded on such principles, but over the years the people have allowed the government to stray from that path and assume more control and responsibility over our lives. From time to time, the people must be reminded of how far government has deviated from its rightful role. Limited Government Week is just such a time.
Limited Government Week 2008 events are co-sponsored by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' Center for the Study of Government and the Individual, The Gazette and the Limited Government Forum and will be held at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort on April 28, 29 and 30.
Kicking off the event is "Prime Chuck: An Evening with Chuck Asay," on April 28. The gathering will feature a gallery show and sale, and a presentation by the long-time Gazette editorial cartoonist. Join Asay to get his take on America's founding ideals and a chance to purchase originals of some of your favorite Asay cartoons.
On April 29, national and local experts will examine government's role in providing health care. The day will include three panel discussions with industry insiders, analysts and politicians examining the issue from national, state and local perspectives. These discussions promise to provide insight, answers and maybe some fireworks as people with opposing views bring their knowledge to the table.
That evening, John Stossel, co-anchor of ABC's "20/20" will deliver Limited Government Week's keynote address, "Freedom and Its Enemies." The event begins at 5:30 with a book signing and reception, followed by dinner and Stossel's remarks.
The final event of the forum will be "Civic Innovators: A Lunchtime Conversation," featuring Patrick Salerno, longtime city manager of Sunrise, Fla., known for its outsourcing of municipal services, and Dr. Randy Simmons, mayor of Providence, Utah, who is involved in the theory and practice of outsourcing.
Whether you think government is the cause of, or the solution to, challenges facing our society, Limited Government Week 2008 should provide insights and information you might not have considered. You can register for individual events or the whole enchilada at www.uccs.edu/~csgi/. If you have any questions you can contact Jane Muller at 262-4553 or jmuller@uccs.edu. Media inquiries should go to Sean Paige at 576-9055 or seanpaige@msn. com.
TAKING AN AX TO FEDERAL BUDGET
In a disappointing presidential campaign, we were encouraged last week by Sen. John McCain's announced economic plan. If one squints, it almost looks like a conservative Republican platform once associated with that party.
As far as it goes, it's pretty good. It could go further, but it's considerably more palatable than what's offered by Democrats seeking the same job.
McCain occasionally offers a good idea for not such a good reason. He wants to reduce corporate tax rates from 35 percent to 25 percent, not because taxes stifle economic innovation, but because American companies shouldn't pay more than "our major trading partners impose." If foreign taxes increase, would McCain increase ours to match?
He says government shouldn't subsidize prescription drugs for the most affluent. We'd like to see government get out of drug subsidizing altogether. As in education, commerce and everywhere government tries to help by subsidizing, all that's accomplished in the long run is to drive up prices.
McCain pledges immediate relief from high gasoline prices by having Congress suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax this summer. That sounds good; taxes far exceed corporate profits from gasoline. Why should government earn more from private commerce than manufacturers do?
Subsidies for ethanol, tariffs and quotas hurt Americans, McCain acknowledges, so he wants lower barriers to trade to strengthen the dollar and help control rising costs of living.
The meat of McCain's economic plan is his pledge to reduce and eliminate taxes. McCain wants a permanent repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax to lift a $60 billion annual burden from the middle class. He would double personal exemptions for dependents from $3,500 to $7,000, and maintain income and investment tax rates to save taxpayers a $100 billion tax increase, almost $700 per taxpayer every year, rather than let the rates expire in 2011 as Democrats plan. He says he would permanently reform estate taxes by raising exemptions to include estates valued at up to $10 million, while cutting the rate to 15 percent.
Because McCain is one of the few in Congress not to indulge in pork, we again are cautiously optimistic with his pledge to stop earmarks by promising to veto every pork-laden spending bill "and make their authors famous."
Finally, we find highly laudable McCain's call for a one-year "spending pause" to evaluate federal programs. We wish he didn't exempt what he calls "essential military and veterans programs," because we know pork and waste don't stop at the Pentagon's door. Nevertheless, it's refreshing to hear a presidential candidate talk about overall "reduced spending," balancing the budget and eliminating "wasteful spending in defense and non-defense programs."
We agree with his assessment that once "a spending program is on the books, budgets assume that it is on the books forever - and continues to grow - even if the law says it expires." We wish the other presidential contenders cast such a wary eye on federal taxing and spending.
